Sometimes, you neither want to go gray, greige, or entirely beige. In such a case, which color do you choose? Sherwin Williams Alpaca has always worked for me in scenarios like this.
To most, Sherwin Williams Alpaca SW 7022 is a confusing color—it is what you may want to call a chameleon. While it can be hard to categorize, the paint sits in the greige category as it combines beige and gray colors perfectly. However, its undertones make it even more exciting.
This detailed guide will eliminate the confusion around Alpaca. I will help you categorize the color, understand its undertones, know its LRV, and even its RGB values. Read on to learn more.
Table of Contents
What Color is Sherwin Williams Alpaca SW 7022?
| Manufacturer | Sherwin Williams |
| LRV | 57 |
| RGB | R: 204 G: 197 B: 189 |
| Hex Value | #ccc5bd |
| Color Collections | Top 50 colors, Living Well—Center, Trendsetter, Diaphanous |
Sherwin Williams Alpaca SW 7022 is a taupe paint color. However, remember I mentioned this color is a true chameleon—therefore, you shouldn’t expect it to sit squarely in the taupe category. In some natural conditions, Alpaca SW 7022 will give off the appearance of beige and gray, making it a greige paint.
RGB of Sherwin Williams Alpaca
The RGB scale defines the amount of red, green, and blue that makes up a specific paint color. The scale runs from 0 to 255. Sherwin Williams Alpaca SW 7022 combines red: 204, green: 197, and blue: 189.
LRV of Sherwin Williams Alpaca
The LRV scale measures the light a specific paint color can reflect. The scale runs from zero to 100—Pure Black sits at zero with the ability to reflect zero percent light, while Pure White sits at 100 with the ability to reflect 100% light. Sherwin Williams Alpaca is right in the middle of the LRV scale, reflecting 57% of the light.
Is Sherwin Williams Alpaca a Warm or Cool Color?
Sherwin Williams Alpaca is a warm paint color. The color leans more toward Greige, combining gray and beige. The beige in the paint color is more dominant, making it warmer than the traditional warm gray.
Sherwin Williams Alpaca Undertones
Sherwin Williams Alpaca is often considered a neutral color. However, this does not mean that it does not have some undertones.
Alpaca boasts some slightly red and purple undertones that bring out its warmth. In some circumstances, I have also noticed some brown undertones.
Sherwin Williams Alpaca Color Strip: Sherwin Williams Alpaca Color Comparisons
Sherwin Williams Alpaca vs. Agreeable Gray (SW 7029)
Agreeable Gray and Alpaca are warm colors that give off a greige appearance. The two colors, however, differ when you consider their undertones—while Alpaca combines red, purple, and brown undertones, Agreeable Gray boasts green and violet undertones.
Agreeable Gray is more reflective than Alpaca—with an LRV of 60, Agreeable Gray reflects 3% more light than Alpaca. However, both colors would still prefer a well light room—absorbing a lot of light; they can become highly dull if placed in a dimly lit room.
Both colors will do exceptionally well in an extremely bright room, owing their success to their ability to absorb over 40% of the light. Therefore, Agreeable Gray and Alpaca will not become too washed out even when used on the exterior walls.
Sherwin Williams Alpaca vs. Functional Gray (SW 7024)
Functional Gray may work well when you want to make a statement with Greige. Unlike Alpaca, which is a little bit light in its greige shade, Functional Gray boasts a medium hue perfect for creating that saturated look that allows your walls to stand out in any room.
However, the more saturated hue comes with a lower LRV—unlike Alpaca, which reflects 57% of the light, Functional Gray SW 7024 reflects 20% less light with its LRV of 37. While Functional Gray’s lower LRV makes it less ideal for dim rooms, it also makes it perfect for rooms with extreme brightness—it will also make a better statement than Alpaca if used in bright outdoors.
Sherwin Williams classifies Functional Gray and Alpaca in the Living well color collection. The two colors have a calming effect that gives a relaxed feel. Also, both colors are warm—you can use them in a north-facing room to reduce the cold.
Sherwin Williams Alpaca vs. Mega Greige (SW 7031)
Alpaca and Mega Greige are warm colors. However, the warmer tones in Mega Greige lean slightly yellow, making the paint color ideal for creating an extra cozy environment.
Like Alpaca, Mega Greige boasts red and pink undertones. However, Mega Greige is more dark-toned, making it much more suitable for well-light rooms. While Alpaca reflects 57% of the light, Alpaca reflects 20% less with an LRV of 37.
Sherwin Williams Mega Greige SW 7031 creates an almost similar feeling to Alpaca. Both paint colors make a space feel cozy, daring, warm, authentic, and bold. However, since Mega Greige absorbs 63% of the light, it differentiates itself with the ability to add depth to any space.
Sherwin Williams Alpaca vs. Anew Gray (SW 7030)
Sherwin Williams Alpaca and Anew Gray boast a taupe-inspired hue that makes them look remarkably similar. However, Anew Gray is a saturated yet soft, greige color offering the warmth of beige tones and a sense of coolness from the gray tones. Like Alpaca, Anew Gray boasts warmth and coolness, keeping it more balanced.
Anew Gray is slightly darker than Alpaca SW 7022. Therefore, you should expect Anew Gray to reflect less light—this is reflected in its lower LRV of 47, meaning it reflects 10% less light.
Anew Gray leans more neutral than Alpaca, although the two paint colors feature undertones. While Alpaca boasts red, purple, and brown undertones, Anew Gray features subtle green and violet undertones that are rarely visible.
Sherwin Williams Alpaca vs. Perfect Greige (SW 6073)
As its name suggests, Sherwin Williams Perfect Greige SW 6073 is a genuinely perfect greige that boasts timelessness and beauty in all design styles. This is a significant differentiator from Alpaca, which leans more toward the taupe side of the paint colors.
Both Alpaca and Perfect Greige are warm paint colors. However, their undertones differ—Perfect Greige features red-pink undertones, while Alpaca boasts red, purple, and brown undertones.
Perfect Greige is a mid-toned paint color that exhibits a pure, creamy, clean texture. For this reason, Perfect Greige reflects less light than Alpaca, with an LRV of 42. While Perfect Greige will not work in a dimly-light room as it absorbs a lot of light, it creates a bold yet cozy feel, just like Alpaca.
Sherwin Williams Alpaca vs. Pale Oak (OC-20)
We have been comparing Alpaca to other paint colors produced by Sherwin Williams. How about we try something different, like a color produced by Benjamin Moore?
Benjamin Moore’s Pale Oak is often considered a neutral gray—however, in reality, it is not a gray color. It is just as confusing as Alpaca repeatedly displaying a chameleon-like behavior. Unlike Alpaca, which has red, purple, and brown undertones, Pale oak boasts pink and violet undertones.
Like Sherwin Williams Alpaca SW 7022, Benjamin Moore Pale Oak OC-20 is a taupe paint color. Interestingly, however, Pale Oak reflects 13% more light with an LRV of 70. While Alpaca may not wash out in a bright room, Pale Oak may wash out in bright rooms, considering that it absorbs only 30% of the light.
Sherwin Williams Alpaca vs. Modern Gray (SW 7632)
Like Sherwin Williams Alpaca, Modern gray is also a taupe paint color. Modern Gray boasts a super passive undertone, leaning into the gray-violet world. The undertones are pretty different from those in Alpaca, which features red, purple, and brown undertones.
Both Alpaca and Modern Gray are warm paint colors. They work perfectly in north-facing rooms that need warmth to reduce their coolness.
The two colors lie in the mid-range on the LRV scale. Modern Gray, however, reflects 5% more light with its LRV of 62. However, both shades will work well in a bright room, considering their ability to absorb the excess light, allowing them to retain their appearance without getting washed out.
Sherwin Williams Alpaca vs. Edgecomb Gray (HC-173)
Yet another Benjamin Moore production, BM Edgecomb Gray HC-173, is another paint color that is extremely close in appearance to Sherwin Williams Alpaca. Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray is a neutral and flexible paint color that leans greige and taupe, just like Alpaca.
Like Alpaca, Edgecomb Gray is also a warm paint color tucked tightly between beige and gray world. The paint color is neutral and does not show undertones in most lighting conditions. However, in some cases, you may view mild pink undertones, which differs from Alpaca, which has red, purple, and brown undertones.
Edgecomb Gray has an LRV of 63. The paint color reflects 6% more light than Sherwin Williams Alpaca. Both colors retain their character in bright rooms as they are saturated enough and won’t get washed out.
Sherwin Williams Alpaca vs. Worldly Gray (SW 7043)
Like Sherwin Williams Alpaca SW 7022, Worldly Gray is a warm paint color that easily fits in the warm greige or gray category—this, however, depends on your exposure in a room. At heart, however, Worldly Gray leans more toward Greige.
Alpaca and Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray SW 7043 reflect the same amount of light—both have an LRV of 57. The two colors, therefore, boast the potential to hold their look in a super bright space. However, they may look dingy or dull if you do not have good interior lighting.
Like Alpaca, Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray also boasts passive undertones. Worldly Gray has very mild green, which reduces its tendency to lean towards the purple side. Alpaca boasts purple, red, and brown undertones—these are also not very visible, and Alpaca appears neutral in most cases.
Sherwin Williams Alpaca vs. Popular Gray (SW 6071)
Like Sherwin Williams Alpaca, Popular Gray is also a warm greige paint color. The color boasts a combination of undertones and warmth that push it toward the edge of taupe, similar to Alpaca.
Sherwin Williams Popular Gray reflects 61% of the light, just 4% more than Alpaca. The two colors will work in bright rooms—they will not get washed out. However, if you put them in a dark room, they may become dull.
While Alpaca tends to be more neutral, with its undertones only becoming visible in certain types of lights, this is not the case with Popular Gray. Popular Gray’s purple-pink undertones are apparent. However, if you pair the paint color with the right type of light, you may keep the undertones in Popular Gray from becoming too bold.
Sherwin Williams Alpaca vs. Egret White (SW 7570)
Like Alpaca, Egret White is a taupe paint color leaning into warm gray in some cases. Like Alpaca, Egret White will lean grayer in north-facing rooms, while in a south-facing room, the paint color leans on the warmer beige tones.
Egret White is close to the off-white range reflecting 70% of the light. Absorbing only 30% of the light, Egret White may become washed out in rooms with excess light—Alpaca, on the other hand, holds its ground and does not get washed out. However, While Egret White will work in a dim room, Alpaca will be duller in a similar space.
Egret White is a more neutral paint color whose undertones rarely show. However, the paint color still does have undertones—the undertones are violet and a wink of pink. This differs from Alpaca, which has purple, red, and brown undertones.
Sherwin Williams Alpaca Color Palette
Coordinating Colors for Alpaca SW 7022
Sherwin Williams Alpaca is one of the more versatile taupe/greige paint colors. You can pair Alpaca SW 7022 with many paint colors. However, from my experience with Alpaca SW 7022, some pairing colors work better than others—below, I will discuss the best options.
Sherwin Williams Alabaster (SW 7008)
Neutrals have always produced desirable results with Alpaca SW 7022. While there are numerous neutrals, Alabaster stands out for various reasons.
To begin with, Alabaster sits on the higher end of the off-white range—it has an LRV of 82. The high LRV makes Alabaster a perfect pairing color for Alpaca with an LRV of 57—Alabaster adds character to dim rooms, keeping Alpaca from becoming too dull.
Both Alpaca and Alabaster are warm colors. Therefore, if you pair these two colors, a south-facing room may not be the best space for them. Since south-facing rooms are warm by default, adding two warm colors could create an uncomfortable feeling.
Sherwin Williams Moonlit Orchid (SW 9153)
Moonlight Orchid leans on the dark gray color side. The paint color has a low reflective ability, with an LRV of 29. While it’s a perfect pair color in bright rooms adding bold and deep feelings, it will not work in a dimly lit room as it may look too dull.
Moonlit Orchid is not a neutral color—it does carry some undertones. The prominent undertone is purple, matching one of the undertones in Sherwin Williams Alpaca—this suggests that the two paint colors can blend in well.
Moonlit Orchid earns the right for use in the great outdoors with Sherwin Williams Alpaca. Both paint colors absorb a lot of light. Therefore, Moonlit Orchid and Alpaca won’t get washed out in the summer sun.
Sherwin Williams Simple White (SW 7021)
Simple White is another impressive pairing color for homeowners who want to implement a monochromatic appearance. Like Sherwin Williams Alpaca, Simple White leans on the Greige side of the color scale, combining gray and beige.
However, one thing that separates Simple White and Alpaca is their LRV. While Sherwin Williams Alpaca will reflect just 57% of the light, Sherwin Williams Simple White reflects 70% of the light.
While LRV may seem like a simple metric to use when assessing the effectiveness of these colors when paired, it is not. Alpaca is dull in dimly lit rooms—however, add Simple White into that room and watch the room light up, restoring the character of the Alpaca.
Sherwin Williams Mink (SW 6004)
In some interior design projects, you may want to add a touch of shades, pop, and contrasts, without moving away from the gray in Alpaca. You may want to check out Sherwin Williams Mink in such a situation.
Mink SW 6004 is a medium to dark gray paint color with a bit of brown that provides warmth and richness. The paint color blends in well with Alpaca, which also has gray primary tones and brown as an undertone.
Mink leans on the taupe side and hence does resemble Alpaca. However, the LRV of 21 in Mink separates the two paint colors. Since none of these colors have enough reflectivity to create interest in a dimly-lit room, you may want to use them in a bright room—they are deep enough and hence won’t lose their character or become washed out by excessive light.
Sherwin Williams Ivory Lace (SW 7013)
Sherwin Williams Ivory Lace SW 7013 is a creamy-white paint color with some yellow undertones that give it warmth. Like Alpaca, it quickly adds coziness to any room without making it feel too small.
Both Alpaca and Ivory Lace sit in the living well collection. When you consider that both colors are also warm, you understand the level of comfort they can put in your room.
You do not have to worry about dim light when pairing Alpaca with Ivory Lace. Ivory Lace brings an LRV of 79, reflecting enough light to keep Alpaca from becoming boring in dimly lit rooms.
Sherwin Williams Alpaca Complementary Color
In your interior design project, you may want to pair Alpaca with a color that is 100% opposite—that is, a color that sits opposite Alpaca on the color wheel. Alpaca’s complementary color has a hex value of #bdc4cc.
#bdc4cc is yet to get an official name. However, it is a medium shade of cyan-blue, which boasts some hints of green.
What Trim Colors Go with Sherwin Williams Alpaca SW 7022?
If you are wondering about the best trim colors to pair with Sherwin Williams Alpaca, you do not have to worry about being short of options. Alpaca works with numerous trim colors, although it prefers colors in the off-white and near-white range. My most popular options include the following:
Sherwin Williams Pure White (SW 7005)
Despite what the paint color name suggests, Pure White is not a true white. Like Alpaca, it boasts some passive and soft warmth—however, it is not creamy like other whites in the Sherwin-Williams Catalog.
Sherwin Williams Pure White sits in the off-white range on the LRV scale, reflecting 84% of the light. Pairing Pure White with Alpaca creates a situation where you no longer have to worry about lighting in the room—Pure White reflects enough light to add character to Alpaca in dim rooms.
Sherwin Williams Pure White absorbs only 16% of the light, while Alpaca absorbs 43% making the two a good combination. Pure White trims will be more visible. However, since they will occupy a small portion, they won’t take all the attention from Sherwin Williams Alpaca.
Sherwin Williams Snowbound (SW 7004)
If you are still looking for a perfect trim color for your Sherwin Williams Alpaca walls, consider Snowbound. SW 7004 is a soft, warm white paint color that reflects 1% less light than Pure White. Snowbound sits on the higher end of the off-white range with an LRV of 83. The color will make a statement even in the dimmest rooms.
Snowbound picks some attractive, slightly taupe undertones that combine violet and pink. With shades almost similar to those in Alpaca, you do not have to work with two intense colors—their similar undertones create a middle ground.
Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White (CC-20)
Decorator’s White is a bright white paint color that boasts a light touch of gray in the background. It feels like a true, bright white; however, the paint color has some depth and interest, making it more unique than clear white paint.
The Decorator’s White sits in the upper end of the off-white range, with an LRV of 84.6. Using the color on your trims will always brighten your dim rooms. Pairing Alpaca and Decorator’s White will create an exciting look where Alpaca does not end up looking too dull.
Benjamin Moore Simply White (OC-117)
BM Simply White is a warm white paint color that swings between warm true white and soft White, depending on where you put it. The color boasts yellow-green undertones.
Although Simply White has undertones, they are highly passive, and you rarely see them. The color is close to true white, reflecting 89.52% of the light hitting its surface. On your trims, the paint color will always stand out, irrespective of how dim the room is. Moreover, the paint color will add some character to the room by ensuring the light bouncing off its surface ends up on the less reflective Alpaca.
Sherwin Williams Alpaca Benjamin Moore Version
If you want to replace Sherwin Williams Alpaca with a Benjamin Moore version that offers similar results, things can seem pretty confusing. Luckily, we have researched, so you do not have to—Benjamin Moore London Fog is the paint color that closely matches Sherwin Williams Alpaca.
On the RGB scale, Benjamin Moore London Fog combines red: 204, green: 199, and blue: 189. Like Sherwin Williams Alpaca, Benjamin Moore London Fog reflects 57% of the light.
How Does Light Affect Sherwin Williams Alpaca?
North-facing light tends to be the coolest light, bringing out Sherwin Williams Alpaca’s cooler side. While Alpaca is a warm color, north-facing light often makes it lean towards the cool grey and greige side, reducing its warmth.
A south-facing room receives warm and bright light. For this reason, the south-facing light will always bring out the warm side of Sherwin Williams alpaca. The color will lean toward its warm beige side while suppressing its cool gray.
Best Rooms to Paint Sherwin Williams Alpaca SW 7022
Sherwin Williams Alpaca in Living Room
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Sherwin Williams Alpaca in Bedroom
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Sherwin Williams Alpaca in Bathroom
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Sherwin Williams Alpaca Outdoors
Overview
Sherwin Williams Alpaca is a confusing color. A first look will leave you confused as to whether what you are looking at is a beige, gray, or greige color. However, in real life, Alpaca exhibits a greige appearance, although it is not uncommon for many people to consider it a taupe color.
The paint color has a medium LRV, meaning it will work well in a room with enough light. However, if you can pair Alpaca with paint color with a high LRV, you can easily make it work for dim rooms—the more reflective paint color will keep Alpaca from going the dull route.
Alpaca is quite versatile—it works with numerous trim and pairing colors. However, in the trims category, the paint color prefers colors that lean on the white edge of the color scale. We have outlined the different options you can choose from in this guide, so you won’t have to waste your time on research.
Sherwin Williams Copen Blue (Palette, Coordinating & Inspirations)
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Sherwin-Williams Canvas Tan (Palette, Coordinating & Inspirations)
Sherwin-Williams Oyster White (Palette, Coordinating & Inspirations)
Sherwin Williams Shoji White (Palette, Coordinating & Inspirations)
